Leading the line in the absence of Josh Sargent, who was missing due to concussion protocols, Makama struck in the 48th and 61st minutes to sink a Saints side who had won five out of six going into the lunchtime kick-off.
Ryan Manning had swiftly equalised for the visitors with a fine long-range effort but summer signing Makama had the final say with his sixth goal of an impressive campaign.
It might have been a different story had the Saints converted a first-half penalty, but goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic made a superb stop to thwart Adam Armstrong and set up a memorable second period for the hosts.
Southampton should have been in front inside two minutes after winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, following a foul on Leo Scienza.
The Brazilian’s brilliant curling effort struck the crossbar and bounced out kindly for Flynn Downes, who headed straight at Kovacevic when an effort either side would have opened the scoring.
The Saints went on to have the better of a lively first half and wasted an even clearer chance to open their account after 26 minutes.
This time Harry Darling was adjudged to have brought down Scienza as he burst into the area, giving Armstrong the chance to add to his impressive goal tally this season from the spot, but Southampton’s top scorer was denied by a splendid diving save from Kovacevic.
Norwich had their moments too and looked anything but a side sitting second-bottom in the table.
Jack Stephens almost deflected a low Oscar Schwartau cross into his own net midway through the half and Makama skied the ball over from a good position after being slid in by Schwartau as the game ebbed and flowed.
The Canaries made their opponents pay for not taking their first-half chances as they edged in front inside three minutes of the second period.
A switch of play saw the ball moved to the right flank where Schwartau delivered a low cross to the near post for Makama to divert into the back of the net.
Southampton were back on level terms nine minutes later. When the hosts failed to clear their lines after a corner, the ball fell to Manning – some 25 yards out – who produced a sweet left-footed drive to find the bottom corner.
The goal rush continued as Norwich made it 2-1 just past the hour mark, with Makama adding his second with a close-range finish after Darling had headed Jacob Wright’s inswinging cross into his path.
The visitors pressed hard for a second equaliser but Norwich defended well to see out only a fourth victory of a troubled campaign.]
Elsewhere, Jordan Storey and Daniel Jebbison struck a goal in each half to give high-flying Preston a 2-1 victory at Oxford and a fourth win in their last eight away Championship games.
Storey headed in Thierry Small’s cross from four yards out at the far post in the 26th minute following a corner. The ball appeared to deflect in off Ciaron Brown’s back but Storey was claiming it.
Canada international Jebbison then notched his fifth goal of the season as he converted Alfie Devine’s cutback four minutes into the second half.
Oxford halved the deficit four minutes later when Brian De Keersmaecker beat a defender from Nic Prelec’s pass and hammered home a left-footed drive, but Preston held on to their lead.
And finally in the early kick-offs, Ben Pearson and Sorba Thomas got the goals as Stoke ended their three-game winless run with a 2-1 victory at home to Swansea.
Defender Pearson hit a sweetly-struck opener late in the first half and Thomas got the second after an hour as the Potters collected only their second win in seven.
